Thai colleges may face closure if students involved in brawls

[webfact]

Colleges may face closure if students involved in brawls
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AUTHORITIES have decided to adopt Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's idea of closing down educational institutes whose students engage in violent brawls.

Prayuth floated the idea on Wednesday after six students of the Rajamangala University of Technology Uthenthawai Campus confessed to having gunned down three students of a rival institute this month in what they described as "revenge for a friend's death".

The university and the Pathumwan Institute of Technology are arch-rivals.

The Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec), the Office of Private Education Commission (Opec) and the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Ohec) yesterday chorused their intention to temporarily close down any college/school involved in brawling.

"The closure will be in place pending the results of an investigation into the violent incident," Ovec secretary-general Chaiprug Sereerak said. His office would instruct all vocational colleges/schools under its supervision to prepare plans to prevent their students from brawling during school breaks.

Opec secretary-general Bundit Sriputtangkul said that if students of any school or college are found engaged in a violent brawl, that educational institute would be immediately shut for three to seven days.

"We will allow the reopening only after the executive of the institute presents us with a good plan on how to prevent the recurrence of violence," Bundit said. All privately run educational institutes are under his office's supervision.

Ohec secretary-general Kamjorn Tatiyakavee said troublesome institutes should be closed at least until they regain public trust. He also recommended disciplinary action against the executives of the educational institutes whose students have continued to brawl.

Ohec supervises all higher-educational institutes.

Police searches have recently uncovered many weapons inside Rajamangala University of Technology Uthenthawai Campus and the Pathumwan Institute of Technology.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Colleges-may-face-closure-if-students-involved-in--30243626.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-19

[thesetat2013]

Another drastic measure which will make many suffer for the actions of only a few. How can they hold a whole school accountable with 1000s of students paying the price for only a few bad seeds?

The schools can't control the actions of students outside of school property.

I am sure they will all have a plan ready the same day another brawl happens so they will not have to close for more than a couple days. What they need to do is to get rid of the teachers that are instilling rivalry amongst the other schools. Teach them teamwork and fair play as well as losing with dignity and pride.

[Thailand]

Some very strange ideas coming from the current "government".

As previous mentioned, all to suffer because of the actions of a few?

It does not take a genius to work out that students from other universities that want to shut down a rival have now been advised just how to do it.

Very little thought being put in to solutions to problems, simply jumping in blind in many cases.

[NongKhaiKid]

I once worked at a technical school in a rural area and since there was no similar establishment in that part of the province there was no conflict with other students.

Every student was on a 100% government grant so all the teachers were well warned not to upset them in case they walked as the grant money went with them.

The school was a zoo and all the owner and senior staff wanted was for the students to behave in uniform outside the premises. Forcible haircuts for the boys was common.

Education was a mere incidental.

[lovetotravel]

Another drastic measure which will make many suffer for the actions of only a few. How can they hold a whole school accountable with 1000s of students paying the price for only a few bad seeds?

The schools can't control the actions of students outside of school property.

I am sure they will all have a plan ready the same day another brawl happens so they will not have to close for more than a couple days. What they need to do is to get rid of the teachers that are instilling rivalry amongst the other schools. Teach them teamwork and fair play as well as losing with dignity and pride.

Unfortunately, it's more than just a few. We only hear about a few incidents in the English press. It's extremely wide spread.

The idea of closing down a school is a great idea. It will make the management of that school deal with these issues rather than just ignore them.

[recycler]

Another drastic measure which will make many suffer for the actions of only a few. How can they hold a whole school accountable with 1000s of students paying the price for only a few bad seeds?

The schools can't control the actions of students outside of school property.

I am sure they will all have a plan ready the same day another brawl happens so they will not have to close for more than a couple days. What they need to do is to get rid of the teachers that are instilling rivalry amongst the other schools. Teach them teamwork and fair play as well as losing with dignity and pride.

Unfortunately, it's more than just a few. We only hear about a few incidents in the English press. It's extremely wide spread.

The idea of closing down a school is a great idea. It will make the management of that school deal with these issues rather than just ignore them.

Yes and closing down the school will give the kids more time to roam the streets and shoot each other, great idea!

[steven100]

I really don't think its such a bad idea .....

The governments way of thinking is that it will be a big embarrassment to any kid caught brawling and therefore lose of face. Of coarse its not fair for the other good student all the same.

I think it would be a good idea to front all the kids up in the morning and inform them that any brawling will result in the parents of the brawlers being held liable and possible charges being taken against them as they are responsible for there kids. The idea is to scare the students so much that they don't want to make any trouble .... as the consequences are severe

just my thoughts ... but its not an easy solution.

[asdecas]

Why these children slaughter and maim each other over absolutely nothing is one of the enduring mysteries of Thailand. But then the same could be said of American youth gangs. Too much testosterone, too much time, not enough to do.

[trogers]

Another drastic measure which will make many suffer for the actions of only a few. How can they hold a whole school accountable with 1000s of students paying the price for only a few bad seeds?

The schools can't control the actions of students outside of school property.

I am sure they will all have a plan ready the same day another brawl happens so they will not have to close for more than a couple days. What they need to do is to get rid of the teachers that are instilling rivalry amongst the other schools. Teach them teamwork and fair play as well as losing with dignity and pride.

That's why building an arena is imperative. Place those gangs in, and only one person gets out. Thus, the majority need not suffer, nor would the gangs get bigger.

[trogers]

I really don't think its such a bad idea .....

The governments way of thinking is that it will be a big embarrassment to any kid caught brawling and therefore lose of face. Of coarse its not fair for the other good student all the same.

I think it would be a good idea to front all the kids up in the morning and inform them that any brawling will result in the parents of the brawlers being held liable and possible charges being taken against them as they are responsible for there kids. The idea is to scare the students so much that they don't want to make any trouble .... as the consequences are severe

just my thoughts ... but its not an easy solution.

Trying to scare kids who may kill their parents over money to buy drugs or gaming?

[taony]

Could help the quality of education in Thailand!

[jaltsc]

"AUTHORITIES have decided to adopt Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's idea of closing down educational institutes whose students engage in violent brawls."

Has anyone floated the idea of Stricter Admission Standards, Including background checks, psychological testing, and realistic references? Right now it appears that some of the students admitted are more qualified to become members of a hit squad than a student body.

[Lupatria]

Some very strange ideas coming from the current "government".

As previous mentioned, all to suffer because of the actions of a few?

It does not take a genius to work out that students from other universities that want to shut down a rival have now been advised just how to do it.

Very little thought being put in to solutions to problems, simply jumping in blind in many cases.

It seems to be part of the ‘culture’ here never to think things through to the end and consider any consequences of their actions.

With this mindset to close down universities if violent brawls happen wouldn't it be a logical consequence to completely shut down Pattaya and a couple of other hot spots of violence?

[lovetotravel]

Another drastic measure which will make many suffer for the actions of only a few. How can they hold a whole school accountable with 1000s of students paying the price for only a few bad seeds?

The schools can't control the actions of students outside of school property.

I am sure they will all have a plan ready the same day another brawl happens so they will not have to close for more than a couple days. What they need to do is to get rid of the teachers that are instilling rivalry amongst the other schools. Teach them teamwork and fair play as well as losing with dignity and pride.

Unfortunately, it's more than just a few. We only hear about a few incidents in the English press. It's extremely wide spread.

The idea of closing down a school is a great idea. It will make the management of that school deal with these issues rather than just ignore them.

Yes and closing down the school will give the kids more time to roam the streets and shoot each other, great idea!

A school would only close down if the administration couldn't control the few violent students. If they can't do that, then how can they really run a school? Kick out the few bad ones. Put them in the army for a few years.

[Just1Voice]

As I stated in another post relating to this, one of the possible "solutions" to this problem is to either do away with all school uniforms and let the kids wear normal clothes, as that would prevent anyone from knowing what school a student attended, or put all tech schools in the same uniform, again making it impossible to know which school a student attended. Granted, there will still be things such as back packs and bags with school names and logos on them, but the "no uniform" or "all the same uniform" would greatly reduce the attacks and shootings.

Another option would be to hold not just the students involved accountable, but also their parents. Hold them liable to a fine of 20,000 baht if their son, or daughter, is implicated in an attack on another student, 50,000 if there is a shooting, 100,000 baht if a death occurs. Make it a law. You can bet the average family will come down hard on their kids if they know it's going to hit them in the pocketbook.

[Halion]

Typical of the rarefied air that this country breaths. Take strict and stern action against the perpetrators as well as the school administration staff and the parents of the offending little scum bags that think they can go around shooting and stabbing each other with impunity.

Closing the schools is simply banal.

[seajae]

any student/s found fighting /organizing inter school brawls or participating in them should be summarily dismissed from the school and not allowed to enrol in any other school/technical college/university in Thailand. The only way to stop these idiots is too remove their right to any education and a future, maybe the threat of no future earnings/work capacity will make them pull their heads in and stop this crap. A automatic jail sentence wouldnt go astray either instead of just slapping them on the wrist, parents wealth should have no influence on the punishment at all.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

With the same logic all roads in Thailand should be shut down permanently, too many people dies on them every day.

[halloween]

"Police searches have recently uncovered many weapons........."

So how many people were charged with possession of these weapons? Were they confiscated?

if they are illegal enough to be confiscated, why weren't charges laid?

[Lukecan]

Rival university? <deleted>

[Fred Flinstone]

The irony of a man who took power by force now threatening this.

[Mrjlh]

I have an idea Mr. PM, I suggest using the same tactic you used with the arguing politicians. Have half the classmates from each school switch schools for one month. Then the other half the next month. You make them work together and offer incentives for those who work well. Then do it again one more time. Make it a contest to see who wins. In the process you should be able to weed out the trouble makers anonymously. Because the good students from the opposite school will most likely be the ones to report the bad apples because they are the ones who would not fear retaliation. Give that a try. If doesn't work then slam the colleges.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

or just throw caution to the wind and hold individuals responsible for their own actions??? Not only required in Thailand by the way.

[englishoak]

just tell everyone anymore brawling no elections next year.... cant fail.

[belg]

punish the innocent together with the culprits